How low can it go?

The rivers are now very low thanks to persistent scorching weather. It's making things incredibly tough for any salmon fishers, but the river trout anglers are still fairing well with June's total now approaching 700 for the month. The sea trout catch is up to 18 off hotel waters, with 7 landed last week. With the difficult conditions, smaller flies fished carefully have been tempting most fish by night. Some warmer night-time temperatures wouldn't hurt and a drop of rain would be most welcome!


Hard work but not impossible - a Lyd sea trout caught last week.

Devon sea trout - by day and night

Thanks to the current showery weather, sea trout are now running the River Lyd in ever-increasing numbers. The rain has also meant that the river is fluctuating between clear and murky, making it ideal for night fishing one minute, and then day fishing the next! Our hotel instructors David and Tim have managed to land one or two, with David catching two to 1lb 10oz by day, and Tim one at 1lb 4oz in daylight and a cracker of 3 1/2lb after dark. All of the fish were returned to the river.

The sea trout season starts here!!


A 3 1/2-pounder for Tim Smith on beat 3.


David and a Lyd sea trout by day.

The mayfly are here...

Mayfly on the River Tamar, yesterday!


Better late than never, they have finally arrived. The mayfly bring with them the season's best trout fishing. We have some of the West Country's finest wild trout beats available this June, at just £26 per day for up to a mile of water to yourself!

Biggest brown trout for 40 years!

As in most West Country rivers, River Lyd brown trout average 6-8 inches in size. A big one is anything over 10 inches. A pounder is a monster and the best of the season is usually a touch larger.

In 1940 a fish of 3lb 4oz was caught.
In 1969 a fish of 3lb 1oz was caught.
On 28th May 2010 a fish estimated at 2 1/2lb + was caught...

Fishing for sea trout at night, local angler Graham Bray thought he had hooked the first sea trout of the season... it turned out to be this colossal brownie. The fish took a size 4 WMD sea trout fly and was carefully returned - after a couple of snaps - to fight another day.
Well done Graham for catching what is truly a once in a lifetime fish!

The Sea Trout Are Here!

Sea trout are now present on our Tamar and Lyd beats. They're not here in numbers as yet, but some very large fish have been spotted during this current spell of scorching weather. David, Tim and regular fisher Gerald were all out last night, but despite a few fish being heard jumping, none were caught. A bright moon, clear, cold skies and a family of young otters learning to hunt probably didn't help... but then, every angler needs an excuse!

If you fancy a crack at what looks to be the onset of a real sea trout fisher's summer, book now. If you've never tried it before, but have a little fly fishing experience then don't worry as guided night fishing for sea trout is a speciality at The Arundell Arms.

BBC 2 - filming on the Lyd

Following on from the successful BBC 2 programme The Victorian Farm, the forthcoming series of The Edwardian Farm features Arundell Arms instructor David Pilkington - in full period costume! - teaching fly fishing on the River Lyd. The film crew descended on the river last week to shoot a sequence where one of the team is taught to fish. David was filmed tying flies using traditional materials and also teaching casting and fishing methods with Edwardian-era tackle.
Watch this space for news on Mr Pilkington's prime time appearance!!